The government is eyeing to achieve its buffer stock target of 2 Million Tonnes (MT) of pulses by June next year, which will be used in case of price rise. As per information provided by Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande, the government had purchased about 6 lakh tonnes (LT) of pulses so far and will be able to complete the entire 2 MT by June 2017. The government will be able to procure 1 MT of pulses from domestic market for buffer stock and rest 1 MT will be imported.
The country had imported nearly 6 MT pulses last fiscal to meet the domestic demand. So far this fiscal, the country has imported about 3.5 MT of pulses of which 0.4 MT has been imported by public sector trading agencies.
The secretary has also enlightened that the government is coming up with a new Consumer Protection Act in order to safeguard the interest of buyers and hopes that the same will be passed in the current Parliament session.